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Fresh protests in Sudan after deadly bread clashes
KHARTOUM, Dec 22, 2018 (AFP) – Fresh protests over the rising cost of
bread broke out in Sudan on Friday, witnesses said, as troops deployed after
two days of deadly clashes that left eight protesters dead.
A government decision to raise the price of a loaf of bread this week from
one Sudanese pound to three (from about two to six US cents) sparked protests
across the country on Wednesday.
In the capital’s twin city Omdurman, a witness — who declined to be named
— said demonstrations erupted as worshippers emerged from a mosque
frequented by followers of the Al-Ansar sect, which is linked to the Umma
Party, Sudan’s main opposition group.
Protesters chanted “the people want the fall of the regime” and “freedom,
freedom,” said the witness.
“Riot police fired tear gas at the demonstrators,” the witness added.
The Umma Party overnight Thursday issued a statement calling on its
members to join the protest movement.
Dozens also demonstrated on Road 60, a main artery in eastern Khartoum
that links the city centre to the south of the capital, another witness said.
They demanded the government’s ouster, the witness said on condition of
anonymity, adding that the protesters were dispersed by riot police.
Protests were reported in other cities, including in El Obeid, southwest
of Khartoum, and in Rabak, south of the capital.
In Rabak, the capital of Sudan’s White Nile state, protesters torched the
local headquarters of President Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party
(NCP) and a government charity, witnesses told AFP.
White Nile authorities on Friday declared a state of emergency and
announced a curfew until the following morning.
The protests first erupted in the eastern city of Atbara before spreading
to Al-Qadarif, also in eastern Sudan, and then to the capital.
Two demonstrators were killed in Atbara and six others in Al-Qadarif,
officials said on Thursday, as protesters torched an NCP offices.
Government spokesman Bashar Jumaa warned that the government “will not be
lenient” with those who set state buildings on fire or caused other damage to
public property.
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– Schools ordered to close –
The state-run SUNA news agency said the protest had initially been
“peaceful”, but later drifted off course.
Sudan’s education ministry on Friday announced in a statement that schools
across Khartoum would be closed and classes suspended “indefinitely from
Sunday”.
Rights group Amnesty International called on the government to stop firing
on protesters and open up a probe into the deaths.
“These killings must stop,” Amnesty’s Deputy Director for East Africa Seif
Magango said.
“Opening fire on unarmed protesters cannot be justified and what is
clearly needed now is an independent, efficient investigation,” he added.
Friday, the weekly day of rest, had started with calm returning to
Khartoum, Al-Qadarif and Atbara, witnesses said.
While traffic returned to normal, police patrolled some streets in
Khartoum, and soldiers deployed around petrol stations and banks in the north
of the capital.
Police in patrol cars were seen carrying clubs and tear gas canisters
while the troops held Kalashnikov assault rifles, the witnesses said.
An AFP reporter said lines formed outside bakeries in north Khartoum as
residents waited to buy bread.
Residents in Al-Qadarif and Atbara also reported that security forces had
deployed to secure government buildings and banks.
“Today the city is calm and most of the shops in the main market have
reopened,” Mohammed Sharif Omar said in a telephone interview from Al-
Qadarif.
– Economic woes –
The Umma Party’s call for members to join the protest movement came after
its leader Sadiq al-Mahdi returned home Wednesday from almost a year in
exile.
Sudan has been facing a mounting economic crisis over the past year.
The cost of some commodities has more than doubled, inflation is running
at close to 70 percent and the pound has plunged in value.
Shortages have been reported for the past three weeks across several
cities, including Khartoum.
Protests broke out in January over the rising cost of food, but they were
soon brought under control with the arrest of opposition leaders and
activists.
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